How great would life be if we lived a little, everyday?

A Week Can Change Everything

Monday
I decided that it was time to start thinking about buying my own place. Not particularly encouraged that I could afford a place in San Francisco, I established my game plan. I’d look in the city for three months and if I didn’t find anything, I’d start looking for a property somewhere I’d like to retire.

Wednesday
I met with a real estate agent who had been recommended to me. She pulled up properties in my price range. I chose a few that interested me, and she called the selling agents. After each call, she hung up the phone and said, “I’m sorry; it’s in contract. They’re not showing it.” I wasn’t too discouraged. I had heard it could take a long time to find a place. The last agent she called, however, agreed to show us the place on Saturday. I asked her the address and when she told me, I laughed. “That’s half a block from where I live now.”

Saturday
We met the selling agent at 1:00 pm. He took us to the roof deck first and I was in love. We walked through the condo and I couldn’t find anything to change my mind.

On the sidewalk, my agent asked me what I thought. “I love it. Let’s make an offer.” An open house was scheduled for the next day. “I won’t get in a bidding war. I’ve seen how that turns out.”

She thought for a moment. “Okay. We’ll make an offer tomorrow morning at 8 am. They’ll have until 2 pm, when the open house is scheduled to start, to accept or reject it. If they don’t accept it, it will expire.” “Sounds like a plan,” I said.

Sunday1:55 pm. I receive an email that my offer was accepted. Several signatures later and we were in escrow.

Three Weeks Later
Today I signed a very large stack of loan papers. Next week, keys. Looking forward to making San Francisco my home for another twenty years.

I have been so impressed with both my real estate agent and my loan officer. They’ve turned around things so quickly and reassured me throughout the whole process. Grand idea about a new P2; we just need a clever name. 🙂

Congratulations! Our daughter Jessica just bought a condo in Santa Clara. The process for her did take some time. She was bid out of several properties by all cash offers. However the stars aligned and she finally got a place with a relatively sane offer.
Congrats!